Benefits and harms of coffee due to its properties
Enjoying a good cup of coffee is a ritual for millions of people around the planet. Whether from home, work or our favorite coffee shop, we have turned coffee into the perfect accompaniment to enjoy moments of relaxation and well-being both alone and in company.
Therefore, perhaps it will be useful for us to know the benefits and harms of coffee, to further appreciate all the nuances of this drink. If you are a coffee lover or are starting to take your first steps in the exciting world of coffee experts, in Incapto We encourage you to learn more about the coffee benefits and disadvantages.
Benefits of coffee
The high consumption of coffee around the world is not a coincidence or a simple matter of palate: the health benefits of coffee are currently more than proven, and there are many studies that support that with moderate consumption, the advantages of coffee are many.
There is no specific amount to optimally take advantage of the benefits of coffee, but most studies establish a good margin between 3 and 4 cups a day to take advantage of its nutrients and advantages.
fat burner
One of the main properties of coffee, as almost everyone knows, is its high caffeine content. Caffeine is a component that has multiple effects on our body, but one of them is that it acts as a thermogenic.
What does that mean? Than moderate coffee consumption helps kick-start lipolysis, the metabolic process that causes the body to mobilize fat reserves to use as fuel and increase body temperature.
In combination with a healthy diet and a good level of physical activity and exercise, consuming coffee without high-calorie additives will help you lose those extra kilos more quickly and effectively.
Hepatoprotective and ally of the heart
It has been shown that regular coffee consumption has the ability not only to combat some chronic and degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and type 2 Diabetes, but also to protect liver health, protecting it from diseases such as fatty liver and cirrhosis.
In addition, regular coffee consumption causes the body to get used to it and blood pressure stops increasing accordingly. To this must be added its ability to reduce the risk of suffering strokes.
Rich in nutrients
Another benefit of drinking coffee is its high content of minerals and vitamins, that the body needs for proper functioning. Among the nutrients in coffee we can find:
- Potassium: a fundamental electrolyte in the operation of the sodium-potassium pump, the basic mechanism of cellular functioning. Potassium is also very important for muscles and for regulating high blood pressure.
- Magnesium: intervenes in the regulation of blood sugar levels, among other vital functions.
- Manganese: of great importance to combat osteoporosis.
- Vitamin B5: key in food metabolization.
- Vitamin B2: necessary to produce red blood cells.
- Vitamin B3: intervenes in cholesterol control, as well as in the health of the skin and the digestive and nervous systems.
- Antioxidants: Coffee also contains a large amount of antioxidants, which help fight free radicals and, therefore, delay the aging processes and associated diseases.
Anticancer
If you are still wondering what coffee is good for, we must add that it has the ability to reduce the risk of suffering from liver and colorectal cancer, which are among the most deadly and frequent.
Increase your physical and mental performance
Caffeine has the ability to stimulate adrenaline levels in the blood, which translates into muscle and physical performance of up to 11% more. Have a cup of black coffee before training and you will notice how you perform more and better.
Likewise, it also enhances your ability to concentrate and mental agility: between 1 and 6 cups of coffee a day will keep your mind clearer and faster.
Harms of coffee
Just like drinking coffee can be beneficial, there are also drawbacks of coffee that can directly affect the body if it exceeds its consumption. Knowing the pros and cons of coffee, one of the most consumed drinks worldwide, can be an enriching way to learn more about this product that is so common in our homes.
First of all, it is important to remember that excessive consumption, regardless of the type of product, will directly affect our health. Therefore, It is not recommended to drink more than 3 or 4 cups a day. Exceeding these amounts can cause problems such as:
- Addiction: Like many other exciting substances, caffeine can cause addiction. Therefore, you should avoid consuming excessive coffee to prevent the body from reacting negatively to a lack of it, as can happen when trying to get active or suffering sudden mood changes.
- Feeling of stress and anxiety: If coffee is consumed in excess, it can cause alterations in our pulse, small tremors in the hands and even panic attacks in response to the amount of caffeine ingested.
- Dehydration: Caffeine works as a powerful diuretic, which is why its excessive consumption is not recommended to avoid dehydration. Coffee should always be a beverage served in slightly reduced quantities, not the source of daily fluid needs.
- Insomnia: Its consumption is not recommended after the afternoon as an exciting reaction caused by caffeine. This can disrupt our daily sleep routines and, in the case of clear abuse, cause insomnia.
- Possible digestive problems: High coffee consumption can cause, especially in people with digestive problems, nausea, heartburn, vomiting and even diarrhea. Coffee is a drink with a great laxative effect, which is why, in addition to dehydration, it accentuates possible stomach diseases.
weight gainAnother of the most common disadvantages of coffee is that if mixed with sugar, milk or overly sweetened drinks that contain extra calories in each cup, they will result in possible weight gain.
We recommend above all that you consume natural coffee beans to be able to enjoy all its benefits in the best way.